The BJP president also accused the opposition and said that the illegal settlers have been used as a vote bank.

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Saturday stirred a row surrounding the National Register of Citizens (NRC) report and claimed that India is not a ‘dharamshala’ (a shelter home) where illegal immigrants could come and find shelter.

Shah hailed the NRC report and said that it is the only mechanism that will help solve the rudimentary issues of India, adding that illegal immigration is a threat to our country. He also said that the problem should not be linked to the BJP.

“The NRC is a method to solve India’s problems. How can anyone come and settle down in India? The citizens who stay here have the right to enjoy the resources…The NRC should not be connected with the BJP,” Shah said at an event, according to a report by news agency PTI.

The BJP president further went on to accuse the opposition and said that the illegal settlers have been used as a vote bank and they pose a threat to India’s security and that the BJP takes a tough decision only in the best interests of the country.

“The names of the intruders should be struck off from the electoral roll after identification. They should then be deported as they are a security threat…India is not a dharamshala,” Shah was quoted as saying.

Earlier this year, around 40 lakh citizenship applicants did not find their names in the draft NRC list. The survey conducted by the NRC came to the conclusion that only 2.89 crore people out of the 3.29 crore applicants were found eligible for a place in the NRC list.

The northeastern state of Assam has been witnessing a massive influx of immigrants from the neighbouring country of Bangladesh. However, Assam is the only state in the country that has an NRC, with 24 March 1971 as the cut-off date for name inclusion of ‘genuine Indians’.

Amit Shah rakes up NRC issue, says India not a ‘dharamshala’ for intrudersDescription:The BJP president also accused the opposition and said that the illegal settlers have been used as a vote bank.Times Now